So much of life is mental. You’re faced with thousands of decisions and choices every day. Beginning with if you’re even choosing to get up and out of bed right away or going to lay there for a few minutes to scroll, what to wear, what to eat, what’s on your agenda, getting a workout in, getting your projects done…the list goes on and on. Run the yellow light or stop for it? Take the same way to work or follow waze suggestions? Radio or podcast? Do the same thing or decide to make today different?
Throw a pandemic into the mix, filled with state anarchy, unanswered questions, a defunct unemployment system, empty grocery shelves, home schooling and all of a sudden, the decision making is even greater in volume. The ‘what ifs’, those quarantining alone, others feeling stuck with a houseful and no escape, zoom calls replacing face to face and the realization that you don’t even have to wear pants daily. The stresses, although different for each person, mounted and created chaos. I was listening to so much mental anguish and all of it valid.
How do you assure people that it will be ok when you are so uncertain yourself? I found myself convincing others that things would get better and that all of this was temporary; and I truly believed that. After all, isn’t all of life temporary? It just comes down to how long these phases sustain. But no matter what I believed, or what I’d said, or how encouraging I was, I needed them to believe in themselves. I needed them to see what I saw. Life is a series of reflections, and how you see yourself is often vastly different than how others see you.
We are often our own worst enemies.
Take a hard look at yourself and ask, “Am I a fountain or a drain?” Do you uplift and inspire others with a positive outlook and approach your days with enthusiasm or are you more of an uninspired complainer falling victim to your surroundings? After all, life doesn’t happen to you. Life happens, and your reaction is what creates your outcome.
So, which one are you?
Gym Girl Dana 